Iced drink dispensing machine



Nov. 10, 1964 A. J. Ross ICED DRINK DISPENSING MACHINE Nov. 10,- 1964 A. J. Ross 3,156,103

.ICED DRINK DISPENSING MACHINE:

United States Patent O 3,156,103 A ICED DRENK DSPENSNG MACHINE Anthony Il. Ross, 116 Myrtle Ave., Elmhurst, Ill. Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 106,241 il) Claims. (Cl. 62-331) This invention relates to a drink dispensing apparatus and particularly to a dispensing apparatus for producing iced beverages.

The present invention relates particularly to a drink dispensing device of the type wherein a beverage is dispensed into a cup and a charge of ice is dispensed into the beverage for cooling the same. While the ice does cool the beverage in the cup, it is nevertheless advantageous to cool the beverage producing liquid prior to dispensing the same to reduce the dilution of the drink by melting ice and to also aid in retention of the absorbed gas in the carbonated beverages. Two separate refrigeration systems are commonly used, one being provided to coolL the beverage and the other to produc the ilake ice. However, this requires expensive and space Consuming duplication of parts including separate refrigeration compressors, condensers, evaporators and controls. On the other hand, the use of a single compressor and condenser with multiple evaporators is not entirely satisfactory. The evaporator for cooling the liquid bevetage is preferably operated at a somewhat higher temperature than the evaporator which produces the ice, and diliculties are encountered in maintaining operation of the multiple evaporators properly balanced so that one evaporator does not rob the other evaporator or otherwise adversely affect the cooling action of the other evaporator.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved iced drink dispensing apparatus of the type which dispense a beverage liquid and a charge of ice, and which drink dispensing apparatus is of simple and economical construction and efficient in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide an iced drink dispensing apparatus for dispensing a beverage liquid and a charge of ice and in which a single refrigeration system is used for both cooling the beverageliquid and producing the flake ice.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide an iced drink dispensing device of the type including an ice making and dispensing apparatus and a beverage liquid storing and dispensing apparatus, and which device utilizes ,a portion of the ice produced by the ice making apparatus to cool the beverage liquid whereby to enable use-of a single refrigeration system for both cooling the beverage and producing the ice to be dispensed.

Another object of this invention is to provide an iced drink dispensing device in accordance with the foregoing object, and which the ice that is melted during cooling of the beverage is automatically refrozen by the ice making apparatus.

These, together with various ancillary objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view diagrammatically illustrating an iced drink dispensing machine embodying the present invention; I

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the plane 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the electrical controls for the dispensing machine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view diagrammatically illustrating a modified form of iced drink dispensing machine embodying the present invention; and

3,156,103 Patented Nov. 10, 1964 ice FIG. 5 is a tranverse sectional view taken on the plane 5--5 of FIG. 4.

The iced drink dispensing device in general includes a dispensing station 1), a beverage liquid dispensingvapparatus designated generally by the numeral 11 and a beverage storage and supply system 12 for supplying beverage liquids to the dispensing mechanism 11. The dispensing device also includes an ice producing and storing apparatus 13 and an ice dispensing apparatus 14 for dispensing measured charges of ake ice into a cup C at the dispensing station. In accordance with the present invention, an improved arrangement is provided for cooling the beverage producing liquids so as to enable the use of a single refrigeration apparatus 15 for both producing the ice and for cooling the beverage liquids.

The beverage storage and dispensing apparatus may be of any conventional construction and, for example, may be of the premixed type wherein the beverages and Syrups are premixed and stored in tanks for dispensing into cups or, alternatively, may be of the type wherein the syrups and carbonated beverages are stored separately and then mixed either immediately prior to introduction into the cup C or after they have been introduced into the cup. As shown, a plurality of reservoirs designated 17, 18 and 19 are provided for storing the diilerent Syrups and Water, and the several reservoirs are connected through supply lines 21, 22 and 23 to a respective one of the dispensers Z4, 25 and 26. The dispensers are preferably of the type which are electrically operated todispense a measured charge of liquid and may, for example, be timer controlled valves or volume type measuring devices of conventional construction.

The ice producing and storing apparatus 13 includes a liquid receiving vessel 31 and an ice storing vessel 32 communicating with the liquid receiving vessel. In the embodiment shown in FlGS. 1 3, the liquid receiving Vessel 31 is positioned below the ice storage vessel so that any ice which melts in the latter can drain back to the liquid vessel to be refrozen. The liquid receiving vessel 31 has a semi-cylindrical side Wall and removable heads 33 and 34 forming the end walls thereof. The ice receiving vessel has spaced side and end walls 35 and `3:6 respectively which extend upwardly `from the Acylindrical side walls of the liquid vessel. The ice producing apparatus includes a freezing wall and the freezing wall is advantageously in the form of an internal evaporator shell or casing 33 which is attached to one of the heads ,such as 33 and extends into the liquid vessel in spaced relation to the side walls thereof. An ice removing device, herein shown in the form of a resilient axially expansible contractible helix 39 is disposed around the internal evaporator shell for stripping the ice therefrom. The helix has `an arm 41 at one end which is connected to a drive shaftAZ driven by a motor 43 or the like.l A thrust button 44 may be interposed between the arm 41 and the end of the evaporator shell 38 to transmit the end thrust on the helix to the evaporator. The evaporator casing 38 has inlet and return conduits 45 and i6 extending thereinto and refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator casing from any suitable refrigerating mechanism. As shown in FIGURE 1, the refrigerating mechanism commonly includes a compressor 47, a condenser 48 and a refrigerant expansion controlsuch as a capillary tube 49 which is connected to the inlet conduit 45. IThe return conduit 46 from the evaporator is connected back to the compressor 47. Water or other liquid to be frozen is supplied to the liquid receiving vessel 31 Lfrom a source Srl under the control of the valve such as the lloat valve Sila through a tube tib. The float valve maintains the liquid in the vessel at a level above the evaporator 38 to maintain the same immersed in the liquid. As the Water is frozen on the outer walls of the evaporator casing 34, it is removed by the rotating ice removing device 39 and fed upwardly thereby into the ice storage vessel 32.

The ice dispensing apparatus 14 is arranged to dispense measured charges of ice from the storage vessel 32 into the cup C. As shown, the vessel 32 has a discharge opening 51 adjacent its upper end and a chtite 52 is provided for conveying the ice charge from the opening into the cup. The dispensing mechanism includes a plunger 53 which is mounted for reciprocation crosswise of the vessel 32 toward and away from the opening 51. The plunger is normally retracted away from the opening as by a spring S4 and means, such as an electrical solenoid 55 is provided for selectively moving the plunger toward the opening to force the ice mass in advance of the plunger through the discharge opening 51. referably, the plunger is in the form of a resilient cup having a diameter somewhat larger than the opening so that the rim 53a of the plunger engages the wall of the vessel around the opening S1 and further movement of the plunger then forces the charge of material into the chute through the opening. A gate 57 is mounted for movement into and out of a position extending across the discharge opening 51 and is yieldably urged to a position closing the opening as by a suitable spring hinge S. The gate functions to compress the charge of ice as it is dispensed through the opening so that the ice passes through the chute in a compact slug to prevent ice particles from collecting in the chute and melting and dripping after the cup has been removed. v

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of heat exchangers, one for each of the different liquids being dispensed, is provided in heat exchange relation with the ice produced by the ice making apparatus 13, and the beverage liquid supply conduits 21-23 are connected to the respective heat exchangers so that the beverage liquids are cooled by the ice making apparatus. The heat exchangers 61-63 may be of any suitable coniiguration and may be located either inside or outside the liquid and ice storage vessels 31 and 32. However, the heat exchangers are preferably located externally of the vessels to avoid interference with the flow of ice from the freezing apparatus to the storage vessel. In the embodiment illustrated, the heat exchangers are in the form of closed generally U-shaped vessels having side portions extending along the side walls of the ice storage vessel 32 and a curved end portion extending along the semi-cylindrical side walls of the liquid receiving vessel 31. As is apparent, the ice produced by the ice making apparatus cools the liquid in the liquid receiving vessel and also cools the walls 35 of the ice storage vessel so as to cool the beverage liquids in the heat exchangers 61-63. Moreover, any ice which is melted during cooling of the beverage liquid drains back to the liquid receiving vessel and is automatically refrozen.

A simpliiied wiring diagram for the apparatus is illustrated in FIG. 3 and includes a main control switch 65 which is operative when closed to supply power to the conductors 66 and 67. The compressor 47 includes the usual motor control 68 and the compressor motor and ice remover drive motor 43 are selectively operated under the control of a bin switch 69. The bin switch is arranged to interrupt operation of the ice making apparatus when the ice level in the storage vessel 32 reaches a preselected level. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bin switch 69 includes an ice engaging blade 71 which projects into the ice storage bin to be engaged by the ice as it is fed upwardly ltherein to thereby shut off the ice making apparatus when the bin is full. The beverage dispensing devices 24-26 and the ice dispensing mechanism 14 are arranged to be selectively operated under the control of switches 72-75 respectively.

A modified form of dispensing device is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In this embodiment, the dispensing mechanism includes a dispensing station 110, a beverage dispensing apparatus 111, a beverage liquid storage and supply system 112, an ice making and storing apparatus 113, and an ice dispensing apparatus 114. The ice making apparatus is refrigerated by a conventional refrigerating mechanism and provision is made for utilizing this same refrigerating mechanism to cool the beverage producing liquids. As shown, the beverage storage and supply system includes four vessels or reservoirs designated 117, 118, 119 and 120 and supply lines 121- 124 which are connected to respective ones of the beverage dispensing devices 12S-128. The ice making apparatus includes a generally upright liquid receiving vessel 131 and an ice storage vessel 132 that communicates with the liquid receiving vessel through a chute 133. The liquid receiving vessel 131 has heads 134 and 135 detaehably connected to the upper and lower ends thereof and a freezing wall, herein shown in the form of an internal evaporator casing 138, is attached to one of the heads and extends upwardly within the liquid receiving vessel. A rotary ice removing device 139 is disposed around the freezing wall for removing the ice therefrom and has an arm 141 at one end which is non-rotatably connected to a drive shaft 142. A motor 143 is connected to the shaft for driving the same and a thrust button 144 may be provided between the arm and the end of the evaporator casing 138 to take up the end thrust on the ice removing device. Refrigerant inlet and return conduits 145 and 146 extend into the evaporator casing and are connected to the refrigerating mechanism 115 in the conventional manner. Liquid is supplied to the liquid receiving vessel from a supply line 150 under the control of a float valve or the like 150:1 through a tube 150b or the like to main tain the freezing wall 138 substantially immersed in liquid.

In this embodiment, a plurality of heat exchangers designated 161-164 are mounted in heat exchange relation with the liquid receiving vessel. The heat exchangers are advantageously located externally of the vessel and are formed complementary thereto to provide good heat exchange between the outer surface of the liquid receiving vessel and the heat exchangers. As shown, the heat exchangers are in the form of generally crescent shaped receptacles or cans which are clustered around the outer wall of the liquid receiving vessel 131. The cans each have an inlet and an outlet passage 165 and 166 formed therein and which are connected in the beverage liquid supply lines 121-124 to cool the beverage liquid prior to its dispensing through the respective dispensing apparatus 12S-128. The ice dispensing mechanism 114 also includes a device 153 for dispensing measured charges of ice from the ice storage vessel 132 through the chute 152 into the cup C. This dispensing mechanism may also be of any suitable construction and is preferably electrically operated as by an actuator 155. A bin switch 169 is provided for controlling the refrigerating apparatus, to stop the same when the ice storage vessel is lled, and a plurality of dispenser switches 172-176 are provided for selectively controlling the several dispensers 12S-128 and the ice dispenser 153.

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation and construction will be readily understood. By utilizing the heat exchanger in the beverage liquid and supply means and locating the same in heat conducting relation with the ice produced by the ice making and storage apparatus, a single refrigerating mechanism is operative rto both produce the flake ice for dispensing and to cool the beverage producing liquids. Since the beverage producing liquid is cooled by contact with the ice, and not by direct contact with an evaporator of a refrigerating mechanism, the beverage producing liquids are never cooled below freezing temperature. Further, since the beverage producing liquid is in heat exchange relation with the ice, and not directly with the evaporator of the ice making machine, it does not adversely effect operation of the ice making machine. With the internal type evaporators as shown, the heat exchangers can be disposed externally of the ice making vessel so as to not interfere with lthe passage of the ice from the liquid receiving vessel to the storage vessel. As will be noted, in both embodiments any ice which melts during cooling of the beverage liquid drains back to the liquid receiving vessel and it is automatically refrozen. This eliminates a necessity lof a separate drain for the vending machine and also provides more efficient operation. In addition, in the embodiment of FIGS. 143 wherein the beat exchangers are also disposed in heat exchange relation with the ice in the ice storage vessel 32, the beverage producing liquids ywarm and partially melt the ice in the storage vessel. This speeds up the tempering of the ice in the storage bin and tends to enhance the break-up of the flake ice into relatively smaller crystals which can be more easily dispensed. As will be seen, the vessels which form the heat exchangers such as 61-63 in FIGS. 1-3 and lol-lod in FIGS. 4 and 5,"themselves hold a significant quantity of liquid. In some installations, vthe amount of liquid that can be held by the heat exchange vessels will be sufficient .to permit dispensing for a satisfactory period of time. In such cases, separate reservoirs such as IC7-A19 in FS. 1 `and U17-d@ in FlG. 4, are not essential.

I claim:

l. ln an iced drink dispensing device, the combination of an ice making apparatus including a vessel for receiving an ice producing liquid and a vessel for storing ice, the liquid receiving vessel having a freezing wall, refrigerating means for cooling said wall to freeze a layer of liquid thereon, means for removing frozen liquid from the freezing wall and for feeding the frozen liquid to the icc storage vessel, said ice storage vessel having an ice outlet opening for discharging ice from the storage vessel, a plurality of beverage dispensing devices for dispensing different beverage producing liquids, a plurality of separate liquid storage and supply means for supplying different beverage producing liquids to a respective one of liquid dispensing means, said liquid storage and supply means each including a heat exchanger disposed in heat exchange relation with the yfrozen liquid in at least `one of .the items comprising said Vessel for receiving an ice producing liquid and said vessel for storing ice to lbe cooled thereby, said liquid receiving vessel being disposed below said ice storage vessel and communicating with the lower end of the latter whereby any ice that melts in `the storage vessel can drain back to the liquid receiving vessel to be refrozen.

2. ln an iced drink dispensing device, the combination of an ice making machine having a drum shaped liquid receiving vessel, an ice storage vessel communicating with said liquid vessel, Aa drum shaped freezing wall disposed within said liquid receiving vessel, means for refrigerating said freezing Wall to freeze ya layer of liquid thereon, a rotary ice removing device for removing ice from .the freezing Wall and for feeding the same to the storage vessel, said ice storage vessel having an ice outlet opening for discharging ice from the ice storage vessel, a plurality of generally crescent shaped liquid receptacles engaging the outer wall of said liquid receiving vessel, means for storing a plurality of different beverage producing liquids, means for dispensing said beverage producing liquids, and means connecting said beverage liquid storing means and said beverage liquid dispensing means to said receptacles to pass 4the beverage liquids therethrough for cooling by the ice produced by lsaid ice making machine.

3. In an iced drink dispensing device, the combination of an ice receiving means having an ice outlet opening spaced above the bottom thereof, an ice freezing head having an ice discharge opening communicating with said ice receiving means adjacent the lower end thereof for feeding ice upwardly therein and for receiving water drain back from -said ice receiving means, said freezing head including a water receiving means having a freezing wall, means for 4supplying water to be frozen `to said freezing wall and for maintaining the water level substantially below said ice outlet opening, means for removing ice from said freezing Awall :and for feeding the ice upwardly into said ice receiving means, beverage dispensing means, liquid storage and supply means for supplying ya beverage proproducing liquid to said dispensing means, said liquid A storage and supply means including -a heat exchanger disposed in heat exchange relation with the frozen liquid in at least one of the items comprising said ice receiving means and said water receiving means whereby the ice which is melted in cooling the beverage producing liquid is refrozen in said freezing head.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said freezing Wall comprises a drum shaped wall disposed inside said water receiving means, `and said ice removing means includes a rotary ice removing device mounted for rotation relative to said freezing wall.

5. ln anice drink dispensing device, the combination of `an ice making apparatus including a vessel for receiving an ice producing liquid and a vessel for storing ice, the liquid receiving vessel having a freezing wall, refrigerating means for cooling said wall to freeze a layer of liquid thereon7 means for removing frozen liquid from the wall and for feeding the same to the ice storage vessel., said ice `storage vessel having an ice outlet opening for discharging ice in the storage vessel, beverage dispensing apparatus for dispensing charges of a beverage producing liquid, liquid storage and supply means for supplying a beverage producing liquid to the liquid `dispensing means, said liquid storage and supply means including a heat exchanger disposed in heat exchange relation lwith the frozen liquid in said liquid receiving vessel whereby the ice -which melts in cooling the beverage liquid remains in the liquid receiving vessel to be refrozen on the freezing wall.

6. In an iced drink dispensing device, the combination of an ice making apparatus including a vessel for storing ice, a freezing wall disposed within said liquid receiving vessel, refrigerating means for cooling said freezing wall to freeze a layer of liquid thereon, means for removing frozen liquid from the freezing wall and for feeding the same to the ice storage vessel, said ice storage vessel having an ice outlet opening for discharging ice from the storage vessel, a liquid dispensing apparatus for dispensing charges of a beverage producing liquid, liquid storage and supply means for supplying a beverage producing liquid to the liquid dispensing means, said liquid storage and supply means including a heat exchanger disposed in heat exchange relation with the ice and liquid in said liquid receiving vessel of the ice making apparatus whereby the ice produced by the ice making apparatus cools the beverage producing liquid and the ice thus melted remains in the liquid receiving vessel to be refrozen on the freezing Wall.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said heat exchanger is disposed externally of said liquid receiving vessel of the ice making apparatus and in heat conducting relation thereto.

8. In an iced drink dispensing device, the combination of an ice making apparatus including a vessel for receiving an ice producing liquid and a vessel for storing ice, a freezing wall disposed within said liquid receiving vessel, refrigerating means for cooling said freezing wall to freeze a layer of liquid thereon, means for removing frozen liquid from the freezing wall and for feeding the same to the ice storage vessel, said ice storage vessel having an ice outlet opening for discharging ice from the storage vessel, a liquid dispensing apparatus for dispensing charges of a beverage producing liquid, liquid storage and supply means for supplying a beverage producing liquid to the liquid dispensing means, said liquid storage and supply means including a heat exchanger engaging the outer walls of said liquid receiving vessel and said ice storage vessel in heat exchange relation therewith whereby the ice produced by the ice making apparatus cools the beverage producing liquid.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said liquid receiving vessel of the ice making apparatus is disposed below the ice storing vessel whereby the ice which melts in cooling the beverage producing liquid drains back to the liquid receiving vessel to be refrozen on the freezing wall.

10. In an iced drink dispensing device, the combination of an ice making apparatus including a vessel for receiving an ice producing liquid and a vessel for storing ice, the liquid receiving vessel having a freezing wall, refrigerating means for cooling said wall to freeze a layer of liquid thereon, rneans for removing frozen liquid from the Wall and for feeding the same to the ice storage vessel, said ice storage vessel having an ice outlet opening for discharging ice in the storage vessel, a plurality of beverage dispensing devices for dispensing a plurality of different beverage producing liquids, a plurality of separate liquid storage and supply means for supplying dilferent beverage producing liquids to a respective one of said liquid dispensing means, said liquid storage and supply means including a plurality of generally crescent shaped References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,113,483 Knight Apr. 5, 1938 2,706,385 Topping Apr` 19, 1955 2,779,165 Pichler Jan. 29, 1957 3,000,189 Bert Sept. 19, 1961 3,059,450 Mueller et al. Oct. 23, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 220,263 Australia Feb. 12, 1959 

10. IN AN ICED DRINK DISPENSING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF AN ICE MAKING APPARATUS INCLUDING A VESSEL FOR RECEIVING AN ICE PRODUCING LIQUID AND A VESSEL FOR STORING ICE, THE LIQUID RECEIVING VESSEL HAVING A FREEZING WALL, REFRIGERATING MEANS FOR COOLING SAID WALL TO FREEZE A LAYER OF LIQUID THEREON, MEANS FOR REMOVING FROZEN LIQUID FROM THE WALL AND FOR FEEDING THE SAME TO THE ICE STORAGE VASSEL, SAID ICE STORAGE VESSEL HAVING AN ICE OUTLET OPENING FOR DISCHARGING ICE IN THE STORAGE VESSEL, A PLURALITY OF BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICES FOR DISPENSING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT BEVERAGE PRODUCING LIQUIDS, A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE LIQUID STORAGE AND SUPPLY MEANS FOR SUPPLYING DIFFERENT BEVERAGE PRODUCING LIQUIDS TO A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID LIQUID DISPENSING MEANS, SAID LIQUID STORAGE AND SUPPLY MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY CRESCENT SHAPED LIQUID RECEPTACLES ENGAGING THE OUTER WALL OF SAID LIQUID RECEIVING VESSEL FOR RECEIVING A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT BEVERAGE PRODUCING LIQUIDS, SAID RECEPTACLE BEING DISPOSED IN HEAT EXCHANGE RELATION WITH SAID LIQUID RECEIVING VESSEL TO BE COOLED BY THE FROZEN LIQUID IN SAID LIQUID RECEIVING VESSEL WHEREBY THE ICE WHICH MELTS IN COOLING THE BEVERAGE LIQUIDS REMAINS IN THE LIQUID RECEIVING VESSEL TO BE REFROZEN ON THE FREEZING WALL. 